Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-07
CELEBRATED RANCHES.
Some of the Finest and Most Extensi,
Ranches in the World.

Some of the Finest and Most Extensive
Ranches in the World.
The policy of Spain and its successor,
Mexico, in their efforts to settle this coun-
try by granting great tracts of land to in
| dividuals, has left immense land holdings
in different parts of the State. Of these,
| Butte county had several, some of which
have been subdivided and are now held in
much smaller tracts. Some of them, how
ever. still remain intact Of these. there
is the Basquejo" grant, situated in the
northern part of Butte and the southern
part of Tehama counties. OF this tract,
| 1900 acres are in Butte county. 1t is
now owned by Senator Stanford, and is a
part of the justly celebrated Vina tract,
which has been donated to the Leland
Stanford, Jr., University. These seventeen
thousand acres are all rich, deep alluvium,
and are mostly devoted to grazing and
grain-growing, for which purposes there is
no better land in the world
RANCHO CHICO.
The Arroyo Chico Rancho, owned by
| General Bidwell, contains $4,000 acres.
and probably, as whole, there is no finer
tract of land of equal extent on this earth.
| 1t has frontage of four miles on the Sac
ramento river, and extends back and into
| the foothills of the Sierras. More than
| $4,000 acres are rich, deep alluvium, and
WIS originally covered with giant timber
| growth, mostly oaks. The largest of these
have been carefully preserved, so that now
the whole valley portion is one great oak
park in appearance.
/ The whole of this vast body of land is
| inclosed and fenced in subdivisions, and
devoted either to grain-raising, grazing,
vegetable and frmt-growing. In the sub
dividing and clearing great care has been
| taken, and much taste and skill exercised
in preserving the most beautiful places in
| their natural state for drives and walks.
There are as many and as beautiful drives
in the grounds of this Rancho Chico" as
| in any of the great parks of the country.
This ranch has one Of the clearest streams
of water running through it that can be
seen anywhere. There is no clearer and
purer water than that furnished by Big
Chico creek. This great ranch is
| DEVOTED TO DIVERSIFIED FARMING,
Raising grain, vegetables, fruit and live
stock of all kinds. Lumber growing is
also carried on largely. Six thousand
acres are devoted to hay and grain; l,40O
| acres are planted in fruit, 1900 of which
are in full bearing, This is believed to
be the largest body of bearing fruit trees
! on the Pacific coast, and probably of the
| United States. There are 800 acres of
! grapevines in bearing, 100 of table grapes
and 200 in Muscat or raisin grapes. There
are great apple, peach, plum, apricot and
| cherry orchards. The cultivation of all
| the small fruits is extensively carried on.
and vegetables are grown for the small
army of men required to cultivate so large
a tract of land, as well as for sale. There
are extensive nurseries where all kinds of
fruit trees are grown for planting on the
ranch and for sale There are several
thousand acres of luxuriant pasture 75O
of which is alfalfa. Two or three hundred
| acres of alfalfa are annually being added.
On this ranch are $50 head of work stocl,
and brood mares, 600 head of cattle. 700
hogs and 5000 sheep. Great care has
been taken to have only the best stock, and
the result is readily seen in driving over
the place.
| ENORMOUS FRUIT TREES.
l have spoken of the immense size
| which the forest growths have attained on
these rich alluvial deposits. The growths
of fruit-bearing trees are equally astonish-
| ing. There are several cherry trees planted
several years that are of an extraordinary
growth. They are more like forest trees
in size than like cherry trees One in
particular attracts attention. Its trunk is
three feet in circumference it is sixty
feet from the ground, and some of the
branches are twenty-five feet in length.
This tree had borne such great quantities
of cherries that three years ago it was de-
termined to ascertain how much it pro-
duced. The fruit was carefully picked
| and weighed, and the result showed l.75O
pounds. After a sight of this cherry mon
arch the enormous yield is not so much to
be wondered at. The wonder is that there
is soil to grow such trees. The apple.
apricot, peach and other deciduous fruit
trees show great and healthy growths.
General Bidwell has model residence
only fourth of mile from Chico, under
giant oaks and other trees and surrounded
with all of the beautiful that refined taste
and skill could suggest.
| AN INDIAN VILLAGE.
There is one spot on this great place of
more than passing interest-the Indian
| village built by General BidweIl for the
aborigines who have always lived on this
place. Instead of driving them away, as
all other people have done, he provided
| them with comfortable houses and work at
good wages. Every effort has been used
to encourage them to make advancement.
| a school-house has been built and believe
a teacher hired for them and paid by Cen
eral Bidwell. This place is used as place
of worship, and has been provided with
an organ. They have been taught music
and some have become quite proficient
| Mrs. Bidwell has devoted much time to
this work, teaching them for years. They
have brass band, and play very cred
itably. They are peaceable, well behaved,
temperate and Industrious, and am told,
entirely devoted to their benefactors-
| General and Mrs. Bidwell.
| RANCHO DE FARwELL.
Another great Mexican land grant was
that of the Rancho de Fanwell. 1t was
| originally $4,000 acres in extent and adj
| Joined that of General Bidwell, and was,
| if possible, as rich and fertile. 1t has
been subdivided, and now the largest hold
Ing Is the o,UOU acres alluded 10 nSpeaHlng
| of the stock of Mr.. Reavis The balance
of this track is held in lots of from 800 to
1000 acres. Opposite the stock farm of
Mr.. Reavis is the model farm of E. C.
Reynolds, comprising 1,500 acres devoted
to grain, grazing and fruit-growing.
There are many other subdivisions of this
tract that have been converted into veri-
table gardens, such as the farms of Colonel
VIM. Hawkins and Benz Allen. Mr..
Allen has large vegetable gardens and
beautiful orchards. The most of this
great tract is still used for the production
cereals.
RANCHO AQUAs FRIAs.
This grant is south and east of Chico, and
contains 26,700 acres. 1t is owned by
Judge and Mrs. Pratt, and under the ac-
tive supervision of R. c. Goodspeed, a
gentleman entirely competent for such an
immense undertaking. 1t is all dark allu
vial soil, much the same in fertility and
character as the land described. Butte
creek, clear stream, makes thirteen mile.
of the east boundary of this tract. Thi.
land is leased in one and two section tracts
More than 1900 acres is in summer-fal
| lowed grain wheat and harley To worl